Woodstock Seeks Growing Room

September 04, 1995|By Betsey Boldt. Special to the Tribune.

A large part of the city of Woodstock's small-town charm comes from its quaint tree-filled town square, complete with a park, gazebo and old-fashioned buildings that look as if they could be the backdrop for a turn-of-the-century movie.

Not too long ago, everything-the City Hall, Police Department, post office and library were centrally located-just a leisurely stroll away from each other.

But today's modern, mobile society with its population surges and increasing demands for services has caught up with the municipality. In less than 20 years the town's population has increased by almost a half-to 16,000 from 11,000 in 1979.

And now, municipal officials, the police force, park and library districts are trying to cope with the city's growing pains by considering a complicated series of moves to help alleviate the overcrowding plaguing every department.

"Nothing right now is urgent in terms of health, life and safety, except the basement police station," said City Manager Tim Clifton.

Indeed, Woodstock Police Chief Joe Marvin had the most pressing list of needs at a recent meeting of various public service department heads that was called by the City Council.

For starters, the Police Department is located in the City Hall's damp, musty, stone-walled basement, which has, on occasion, flooded.

"We have no training, interview/interrogation room, lockers or armory supply room," said Marvin. "Our holding cells barely meet state standards. We have no security monitors, no way of watching prisoners in their cells."

In addition, officers, who are required to keep some reports confidential, must share desks.

About 15 officers and four dispatchers moved into the basement quarters in the late 1970s. Since then the department's personnel has increased to 27 officers and 9 dispatchers.

Marvin said the department currently occupies about 7,200 square feet, while most police departments with population and department sizes comparable to Woodstock's occupy buildings that have at least 20,000 square feet.

"The first (thing) is that something definitely needs to be done to give the Police Department more room," Mayor William A. Anderson told the City Council. "I think we have the facilities we need, if we can do some shuffling."

Anderson suggested approaching the Woodstock Fire Protection District about having the police share a building with the fire department.

"It is a pretty common practice, and I don't think it's a remote possibility," he said.

Another shuffling move that council members discussed was moving either the council chambers themselves, or one or more departments across the street to the old city-owned post office building which has been vacant four years.

Anderson said if the Recreation Department moved into the old post office, it could have classrooms and a multipurpose room for use by community groups.

The department now uses churches, parks and schools for most of its programs.

Mari Steinbach, head of the Recreation Department, also said she was worried about the deteriorating condition of the pool, which is 35 years old, and was built to last 25 years.

"What happens to the Recreation Department, Economic Development, or Finance (Departments) depends on what happens with the Police Department," said City Manager Tim Clifton.

"Here in the City Hall, we are beginning to feel the pinch. If we add another department or any department adds staff, meeting rooms may have to be used for offices."

Public Works Director John Isbell reported that service calls have risen 58 percent since 1978, and he is considering renting storage space from an area garage for off-season equipment.

The library also is begining to feel squeezed, according to Library Director Maggie Field, who plans to conduct a community input survey next year.